Robben quits as Dutch exit; two giants seal WC spot

Portugal beat Switzerland 2-0 in Lisbon thanks to a Johan Djourou own goal and an Andre Silva strike.

France needed goals from Griezmann and Olivier Giroud in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Belarus at the Stade de France.

After a stuttering campaign, France’s achievement in beating Bulgaria and Belarus in their final two qualifiers means they avoid the playoffs having had to go through that route for the last two finals.

“We have had a difficult route and tonight wasn’t easy either but we’ve achieved our aim,” coach Didier Deschamps said.

“We are happy, even if qualifying is logical given the quality of the players I have.”

Giroud said he was delighted to have avoided the tension of the playoffs.

“We’re all relieved tonight to have ended the campaign with automatic qualification,” the Arsenal forward said.

“We chased this game and it wasn’t easy because they were strong and efficient in attack until the final whistle and we had to roll up our sleeves.”

The Dutch, World Cup finalists in South Africa in 2010 and semi-finalists four years later, bowed to the inevitable as they failed to achieve the unlikely 7-0 scoreline over Sweden they needed to salvage a wretched qualifying effort.

Arjen Robben scored twice in a 2-0 win over the Swedes in Amsterdam and said afterwards he was retiring from international football.

“I will always remember the 2010 World Cup and 2014. Those are my best memories. During those two competitions we formed a real team,” the 33-year-old Robben said.

Netherlands’ forward Arjen Robben is joined by one of his childrenSource:AFP

In Lisbon, Portugal navigated a potentially fraught final fixture with Switzerland, who become one of the eight European nations who must fight through the playoffs for a spot in Russia.

The others are Italy, Denmark, Croatia, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Greece and the Republic of Ireland.

The Swiss can consider themselves unlucky after winning all nine previous qualifiers but must now overcome a two-legged play-off in November to earn a fourth straight World Cup appearance.

Ronaldo, who was injured for the opening qualifying defeat in Basel, returned to the Portuguese line-up after coming off the bench to notch the opening goal in a lacklustre 2-0 win in Andorra on Saturday.

Portugal’s midfielder Cristiano Ronaldo applaudsSource:AFP

US pop star Madonna was among the crowd at the Estadio da Luz which erupted when Djourou inadvertently bundled in a dangerous cross from Eliseu four minutes before the break under heavy pressure from Joao Mario.

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva then exchanged passes with former Monaco team-mate Joao Moutinho, threading through the return pass for an unmarked Andre Silva to poke in at the far post.

Greece locked up second place behind Belgium in Group H courtesy of a 4-0 stroll against Gibraltar.

In Paris, Deschamps paired Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann with Giroud’s aerial threat, and Griezmann eased nerves in the 27th minute as he opened the scoring with a confident low finish from Blaise Matuidi’s deft pass.

Six minutes later, Griezmann intercepted a weak pass out of the Belarus defence and fed Giroud, who shrugged off two defenders to bundle in his 28th international goal.

But the French defence was caught napping, allowing Belarus to reduce the gap when the lively Anton Saroka swept past Hugo Lloris a minute before half-time.

Saroka gave France another jolt when he shot just wide in the 64th minute, but he was narrowly offside.

Deschamps brought on Paris Saint-Germain starlet Kylian Mbappe in the second half to inject pace and fresh ideas, but with the seconds ticking down to the final whistle, it was Saroka again who slid a shot just wide from close range.

Arjen Robben ensured that the Netherlands bowed out of World Cup qualification in some style Tuesday, scoring both goals as the Dutch beat Sweden 2-0 before then announcing his retirement from international football. The winning margin at the Amsterdam Arena was nowhere near enough for the Netherlands, which had to beat Sweden by seven goals to move into second place in Group A.

The Swedes, who looked content to defend throughout the match, finished second and go into a playoff for the World Cup in Russia next year. France beat Belarus 2-1 to seal top spot in the group and automatic qualification. If other players had emulated Robben’s finishing prowess, the Dutch would have been much closer to the unlikely score they needed.

Defender Kenny Tete, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum both squandered good chances in the first half and Ryan Babel came close with a long-range free kick. It was 33-year-old Robben’s 96th and final international for the Netherlands and he stamped his authority all over the match, taking his tally of goals to 37, level with Dennis Bergkamp.

He announced his retirement from the national team after the game. Robben gave the Netherlands the lead when he converted – though only just – a 16th minute penalty with a fluffed Panenka chip.

There was no sign of a mis-hit for his second goal, a powerful first-time shot from just outside the penalty area that fizzed past Sweden goalkeeper Robin Olsen and into the top corner in the 40th minute.

As the final whistle sounded, the crowd rose to give Robben a standing ovation, chanting, “Arjen, thanks” in Dutch.

RONALDO’S PORTUGAL GOES THROUGH OVER SWISS

European champion Portugal will get a chance to keep its momentum going after qualifying for next year’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Switzerland on Tuesday.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s team got the win it needed in the showdown against the Swiss at a packed Stadium of Light.

Both teams finished with 27 points, but Portugal had a better goal difference. Switzerland, which had led Group B since the first round, will have to go through a playoff to try to make it to the tournament in Russia. The Swiss arrived with a three-point lead over Euro 2016 winner Portugal and needed at least a draw to earn the automatic World Cup berth. An own-goal by Swiss defender Johan Djourou before halftime and a goal by forward by Andre Silva early in the second half were enough to give Portugal its ninth straight victory since an opening 2-0 loss to the Swiss in Basel last year.

Switzerland had won all of its nine qualifiers until Tuesday’s setback. Portugal was in control but hadn’t been able to create many scoring chances until Djourou found his own net while trying to clear a cross from the left by Eliseu in the 41st minute. The ball touched Djourou’s right foot after getting past a defender and then Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Silva added to the lead in the 57th with a shot into the open net after picking up a cross from the right by Bernardo Silva.

It was only the second time Ronaldo failed to score in this qualifying campaign. The Real Madrid star ended with 15 goals, one less than Poland striker Robert Lewandowski, who scored a record-setting 16th on Sunday.